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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Bujingai: The Forsaken City
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 28 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 7 votes
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Game Info
Publisher: BAM! Entertainment
Developer: Red Entertainment - Taito
Genre(s): Third-Person Action, Fighting
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: July 25, 2004
Summary
(Also known as "Bujingai: Swordmaster") In the 23rd Century, an attempt to develop a new source of energy has gone horribly wrong and 70% of the world's population is instantly wiped out. The survivors learn how to create energy from their own bodies, giving them superhuman abilities. The process of harnessing the power of these abilities is simply referred to as "Skill". For 400 years, the survivors transformed these abilities into a new and deadly fighting art. Now at the dawn of a new age, simply called the Age of Skill, mankind is faced with a new threat. A rift into a demon dimension has been opened, unleashing hordes of fiends on an isolated island city in Asia. One warrior, a master of Skill, travels to the city to combat this invasion. Armed with a pair of swords, and an arsenal of magic spells, Lau must combat the demons and try to rescue what's left of the survivors. [BAM! Entertainment]
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
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What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Game Chronicles
A deceptively cool game in that it hooks you almost immediately with its approachable controls and intuitive building-block combos, not to mention the sheer artistry of the graphics and animation. Then once you are entranced the game gets harder, but by then your skills are more than up for the task.
Read Full Review >Siliconera
An engaging action game from start to finish that is a blast to play. [JPN Import]
Read Full Review >Computer Games Magazine
The gameplay is comparable to someting like "Devil May Cry" or "Otogi" in that gamers have two weapons and are capable of unleashing combos on enemies using both of those weapons with just a few simple button taps. [Nov 2004, p.NP9]
games(TM)
Spend time mastering the figting system, powering up your various attacks and revisiting stages to improve your combo scores and the game becomes so much more than just a basic hack-and-slash romp - it's a feast of replayable swordplay. [Apr 2004, p.100]
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
As cool as the sword fights and boss battles may be, Bujingai may frustrate you for hours at a time with poorly designed levels that depend too much on jumping puzzles. [July 2004, p.88]
GamerFeed
A great piece of work, a kick-ass rush of lightning-fast swordplay garnered around the already breathtaking graphics.
Read Full Review >Jolt Online Gaming UK
We may not call Bunjigai a classic, largely thanks to its less-than-refined story and level design, but as an action-packed hack and slash experience this game has it where it counts.
Read Full Review >GameReviewer
A shining example of how polish and presentation can make an otherwise ordinary game seem special. It may be shallow but what it lacks in technique it makes up for with style and charisma.
Read Full Review >Weekly Famitsu
8 / 8 / 7 / 8 - 31 silver [Vol 785]
Just RPG
It’s a bit on the short side, and the story wasn’t very well implemented, but the beautiful graphics, RPG depth and non-stop action more than make up for it.
Read Full Review >IGN
Overly simplistic and a bit formulaic, its unique approach to the genre isn't necessarily found in gameplay, but rather, it's style and presentation.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Filled with flashy, colorful visuals and frenetic combat, Bujingai can be quite an enjoyable experience--provided you don't pay too much attention to the near nonexistent storyline and the linear-to-a-fault level design.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
It has a mediocre action framework at its core, but the polish and flair that surround it makes for a surprisingly engaging and enjoyable play. [July 2004, p.116]
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
There are enough varied magical effects to keep the action interesting and fill the screen with the occasional burst of bright, explosive light effects.
Read Full Review >netjak
Within its current price range it's one of the best games around outside of the Greatest Hits titles, especially for anyone craving a good action game that happened to slide under the radar.
Read Full Review >IC-Games
I like my straightforward Eastern swordplay as much as the next player, but just like my beat em ups, or FPS’s, I like at least a little bit of variety, especially given the vast array of options on the shelves and there really isn’t enough in Bujingai to elevate it out of the very, very ordinary.
Read Full Review >NTSC-uk
It's more satisfying to play than "Devil May Cry," and allows players to pull off awesome chaining attacks much like "Shinobi"...However, the repetitive levels and tiresome enemies may be enough to put some people off what is essentially an incredibly competent title. [JPN Import]
Read Full Review >GMR Magazine
The combat is fantastic, but...everything outside of combat is pretty bland. [Aug 2004, p.100]
DarkStation
A good hack and slash title but not a great one. The lack of variety to the game hurts it in the long run.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Bujingai ultimately falls short of the mark with a barely there story, doggy camerawork, and a surprisingly short completion time.
Read Full Review >Edge Magazine
It's all about flamboyance, stylish swordplay against clusters of spawning enemies. Anyone expecting more than the chance to concoct dazzling high-score strategies will find it a flat and empty experience, though. [Mar 2004, p.110]
PSM Magazine
It's got its share of problems - a weak story and some lackluster levels - but Bujingai makes up a lot of ground with its slick sword fighting system and clever gameplay. [Aug 2004, p.20]
PSX Nation
With everything from killer combos, tons of unlockable content, and a mere forty dollar price tag, what's not to love?
Read Full Review >Play Magazine
What it lacks in architecture and evolving gameplay, it makes up for in mood, ambience and polish. [June 2004, p.58]
Cheat Code Central
The game is short, but thanks to unlockables, increased difficulty, best score challenges and different ways to beat bosses and levels, there is a good amount of replay value.
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Precise controls, a deep magic system, and massive levels make this a fully above-average slashathon. [July 2004, p.99]
eToychest
Even running through a level on the first try is more of a task than an adventure. And neither the gameplay nor the story are enough of an incentive to push through.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Ari S. gave it an8:
Extremely fast-paced, with an awesome combat and magic system, and great special effects. The levels encourage you to defy gravity, but in some cases it's frustrating to be prevented from running up a building by an invisible barrier. The levels are a bit too blocky, but are still well-textured, and usually allow for one or two clever shortcuts. Other than these, I don't have many complaints with the levels. The animation is fantastic, with very well executed motion capture (go Gackt!), and the moves are flashy and fun to perform. I have a bit of a problem with the enemies, some of which (like the undead) can be very easy to defeat, others (like the demon lion) very challenging, but there is very little in the middle ground. Although the overlords are quite a challenge, watching a fight between an overlord and Lau is like watching a high-adrenaline lightsaber battle in Star Wars. I bought the game with a bit of hesitation, but now that I've played for over 10 hours, I am definitely not disappointed. What the game does, it does extremely well. I personally like this game more than Devil May Cry. Although everyone's heard of that game and few have heard of Bujingai, don't let that stop you from trying this highly addicting game. Recommended!
Plixik B. gave it a9:
i bought it just because there was gacktage but the game is actually pretty sweet. the camera could use a little work as well as a few other things. 8/10 +1 gackt point.
Tyrone D. gave it a10:
Though Bujingai: The Forsaken City did not got get as much hype as it should, I believe that this is a good game. The gameplay is like Devil May Cry however; it's it differnt which is a good thing. If you try this game out for yourself you will be amaze on how good this game is. My rating for this game is a 10.
Kel gave it a 10:
Two words, Kick ass.
J. M. gave it a 10:
The US version of Bujingai is not so bad... Having played the import and BAM's US version of Bujingai, I can say that the US version keeps most all of the Gackt goodness of the import version. The only main difference are the cutscenes are dubbed in English. In my opinion it is virtually impossible to find better voice actors than they have in Japan, but BAM did manage to find some decent voice actors. The decision to dub was one that took much consideration by BAM, who did not want to offend Gackt's US fans. The choice to dub was only made because it was not technically feasible for BAM, to add subtitles and offer dual language audio. Bujingai is a single layer DVD5, and is right at the size maximum. As for the in game sound, all of the Gackt voice samples are intact, along with the rocking Zuntata soundtrack. The soundtrack, by the way, is available separately as an import on the Zuntata Records music label. The extras you ask? They are all there, including the alternate Gackt costume, and the beautifully subtitled video extras. I find that many reviewers are bothered by the rather unique storyline of Bujingai. The game's story doesn't seem all the strange, if you consider that Gackt Camui claims he was born on July 4, 1540, and yes as some have suggested Gackt didn't have a happy childhood. BAM really did a great job of preserving Gackt in all his glory. Don't get me wrong, even without Gackt this is one heck of a beautiful game, but Gackt just makes it all the more beautiful. Having purchased the import version, would I buy BAM's US version? I sure would, since you can never have too much Gackt Camui.
Kasumi V. gave it a 10:
I don't care what everyone says, as long as gackt is in there, the game is awesome. But still, the graphic and the game play seems really well put together. I really like it.
